Become a Vocalise Mentor

Details for 2021-22 will be available here soon. We are currently in the process of contacting prisons to arrange teaching sessions, either virtually or in person. 

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to become a Vocalise mentor you must be either:
 
• a student studying the GDL, the Bar Course, or law as a final year undergraduate or masters student
• a current member of Gray’s Inn who has completed either the GDL or the Bar Course in the past year and not secured pupillage
 
You do not have to be a member of an Inn to apply for Vocalise, but if accepted, you must join an Inn in order to participate. Vocalise cannot send you into prisons to teach unless you are member of an Inn. 

Time commitments

Throughout the Michaelmas (Autumn) term, mentors must commit to attending virtual lessons. Each lesson is two hours long, and there are eight to ten lessons, depending on progress made during the teaching period. Lessons can be taken on either Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. After these lessons are completed, mentors must pass 'boot camp', a half-day practical exam which ensures mentors are fit to teach in prisons. The arrangements for bootcamp will be provided closer to the time due to the constantly changing nature of social distancing requirements and gatherings. 

After passing boot camp, mentors must commit to at least eight half-days of teaching, by way of two separate ‘teaching cycles’ of four weekly lessons. This might mean, for instance, that a mentor signs up to teach one morning lesson a week in Pentonville during February, followed by one afternoon session a week in Downview during April. These two cycles represent a minimum teaching commitment. We encourage mentors to sign up for further sessions if they wish to do so. Lessons are taught in groups of three. 

Please note that all teaching takes place during working hours.

Please contact Vocalise if you require further information. 

Find out more

  • The Board and Team

    View the Vocalise board and standing members

    Find out more

  • Joining the Inn

    Becoming a barrister is more than just a career – it’s the fulfilment of a calling

    Joining

  • Student members

    Get involved with the Inn and the Education Department whilst you are a student member

    Student Members